HGP Nightly News – The Public Utilities Commission says no penalties will be imposed on the Guyana Power and Light, even though the state-owned utility failed to meet the majority of its performance targets during its latest review. The decision was outlined in the Commission’s 35th Annual Report, where the PUC acknowledged that GPL has made progress in several areas but still continues to face major operational challenges.
According to PUC Chairman Dr. Nanda Gopaul, the Commission conducted its annual review of GPL’s Operating Standards and Performance Targets for 2024 at a public hearing held on March 13, 2025. The review found that GPL did not attain most of its targets, but the Commission decided against penalties after considering several factors that affected the company’s performance.
Dr. Gopaul said those factors included recurring damage to GPL’s infrastructure caused by vehicular and equipment incidents, global software system updates and electricity theft. He noted that these issues had an impact on the company’s ability to meet its required standards during the year.
Even so, the Commission made it clear that improved compliance remains an expectation. GPL has been urged to continue strengthening its operational performance, particularly as consumers continue to demand more reliable electricity service.
The PUC also pointed to GPL’s wider modernisation efforts, including the construction of new substations, the upgrading of existing infrastructure, clean energy initiatives and the introduction of advanced technology solutions. These projects form part of the company’s broader plan to improve service reliability and modernise the national grid.
In 2025, GPL recorded 86 customer interruptions, just one above its target of 85. The PUC described this as commendable when compared to 2024, when the company recorded 126 interruptions. At the 2025 public hearing, GPL said feeder trips, construction-related accidents and vehicles coming into contact with transmission lines were among the main causes of service interruptions.
However, the Commission also noted that although there was improvement, the level of interruptions remained far above what would be expected in a modern developing country.
Another concern highlighted in the report was GPL’s system losses. For 2025, the company recorded system losses of 25.43 percent, compared with a target of 22.43 percent. This means GPL failed to meet its loss reduction target and, when compared with the 24.71 percent recorded in 2024, the figure showed a slight increase.
The PUC said the gap between GPL’s actual and target values points to continuing difficulties in managing both technical and commercial losses. The company had previously pointed to several challenges, including the diversion of its workforce to prepaid meter upgrades, the loss of skilled workers to the oil and gas sector, electricity theft, metering inefficiencies, street lighting and network losses.
Despite those concerns, the Commission noted that GPL has made steady progress in adding renewable energy systems, especially solar energy, to its network. That development is being seen as part of the utility’s longer-term transition toward a more modern and diversified electricity system.
